Releasing-crank mechanism for internal-combustion engines



R. N. COOK. RELEASING CRANK MECHANISM FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES. APPLICATION FILED MAY 24, ms.

1,348, 9 3 1 Patented Aug. 10, 1920.

plate holding socket for UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT N. COOK, OF .ASPINWALL, PENNSYLVANIA.

RELEASING-CRANK MECHANISM FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

Aspinwall, in the county of Allegheny and,

State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Releasing- Crank Mechanism for Internal-Combustion Engines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention consistsin an improvement in ratchet controlled cranking mechanism for cranking the shaft of an internal combustion engine, and particularly as to the application thereof to the engine of an automobile. It has forits object to overcome the usually present danger and risk of a the actual engine shaft itself or a supple- 'mental' removable shaft coupled therewith.

In the drawings which show one preferred embodiment of the invention,

.Figure 1 is a plan view of the device as applied to the engine shaft in position for operation;

'Fig. 2 is a View of the device in front elevation, partly broken away, on the line II, II of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line III, III of Fig. 1;- and Fig. 4 is a perspective detail view of the the locking pawl plate. 7 r

Fig. 5 is a sectional detail of pawl and locking pin. 7

The invention may be incorporated fixedly with the end of the engine shaft or with a removable clutching socket adapted to engage the shaft and to be removed therefrom with the crank and its parts when not inuse. The drawings show the latter form. Inthese, a clutchsocket 20f common form is adapted to betelescoped overthe end of engine shaft 3 and to engage the clutch 4 thereof by the usual clutch terminal 5.

' Socket 2 is provided with a short ex- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 10, 1920.

Application filed May 24, 1919. Serial No. 299,577.

tended shaft 6 upon which is journaled a pawl-holding plate 7 adapted to be thrust into temporary socketed engagement with the holding lugs 8 of a socket plate 9. Said socket plate is secured to the frame of the engine or to the front of an automobile frame by screws or bolts through holes 10 and is provided with a hole 11 through which passes the short shaft extension 6 for rotation therein, as shown in Fig. 1. A

ratchet wheel 12 and a fixedly connected or integral cam wheel 13 are freely journaled on the same shaft 6 outwardly beyond the plate 7, the ratchet wheel lying directly against the plate and in line with the pawl 14: therefor. Said pawl is pivoted to'the plate 7 at 15 and has a suitable spring 16 to hold the pawl in looking engagement with the ratchet wheel 12 when it is reversed, but permitting its free rotation away from and under the pawl.

Crank 17 is freely journaled on the end of shaft 6 and may be moved backwardly withoutinterference. A ratchet wheel 18 is secured to the shaft by pin 19 or otherwise, and in line therewith is a co-acting pawl 20 pivoted at 21 to the crank in any suitable mounting, as shown. A spring 22 normally holds the pawl in engagement with ratchet wheel 18 so that the crank may impart turning movement to the shaft, when turned forwardly.

Cam wheel 13 is provided with an annular series of abrupt cam lugs 23 and alternating concave recesses 2-1 adapted to receive and engage the bearing lug 25 of pawl 20 and the pivoted roller 26 thereof.

Pawl 20 is provided with a socket 27 adapted to be engaged by the end of locking pin 28 having a seating spring 29 when the pawl is raised to register with socket 27 by riding up backwardly over lug 23, out of engagement with ratchet wheel 18. By this means the pawl is temporarily held upwardly out of operation, until again released.

13 will be carried around freely on shaft 6 by roller 26 and lug 25, fittingin recess 24. In case of back fire, however, reverse movepawl '20. Pawl 14, however, locks ratchet ment of shaft 6 and ratchet wheel 18 will tend to reverse the crank movement through wheel 12 against reverse movement, also holding cam wheel 13 at the sametime, so

that it is stationary as to pawl 20. Upon reverse movement of the crank therefore, roller 26 and lug 25 will at once ride upwardly on the next rearwardly adjacent lug reverse movement of the engine shaft and crank, and renders the operation of cranking entirely safe, and independent of any harmful results upon back firing.

What I claim is:

' 1'. In combination with a power driven shaft subject to sudden reversal, a fixedly attached ratchet wheel, a loosely mounted cam wheel having a controlling ratchet wheel and a pawl therefor, and a crank having a pawl engaging the fixedly attached ratchet wheel and the cam wheel respectively. v v

2. In combination with a powerdriven shaft subject to sudden reversal, a fixedly attached ratchet wheel, a loosely mounted cam wheel having a controlling ratchet wheel and a pawl therefor, and a crank having a pawl engaging'the fixedly attached ratchet wheel'and having a portion adapted to ride upon and be retracted by the cam wheel, .7

3. In combination with a power driven shaft subject to sudden reversal, a ratchet wheel fixedly attached to the shaft, a cam wheel loosely mounted on the shaft having a co-acting loosely mounted ratchet wheel,

a spring pressed pivoted pawl for said 7 ratchet wheel, and a .crank loosely j ournaled on the shaft provided with a spring pressed pivoted pawl engaging the fixedly attached 7 ratchetwheel and provided with a portion adapted to ride upon and be rctractedby thecam'wheel. v

a. In combination with a power driven shaft subject to sudden reversal, a ratchet wheel fixedly attached to the shaft,'a cam wheel loosely mounted on the shaft having a co-acting loosely mounted ratchet wheel,

'a-spring pressed pivoted pawl for said ratchetwwheeh and a crank loosely journaled on the shaft provided with a spring pressed pivoted pawl engaging the fixedly-attached ratchet'wheel and provided with a lug and roller adapted to ride upon and be retracted by the relatively stationary cam wheel when the crank and pawl are suddenlyreversed by the fixedly attached ratchet wheel. I

5. In combination with a power driven shaft subject to sudden reversal, a fixedly attached ratchet wheel, a loosely mounted cam wheel having a controlling ratchet wheel and a pawl therefor, and'a crank having a pawl engaging the fixedly attached ratchet wheel and provided with a lug and rollerv adapted to'ride upon and be retracted by the stationary cam wheel when the crank and pawl are suddenly reversed by the fixedly attached ratchet wheel.

6. In combination with a power driven shaft subject to sudden reversal, a fixedly attachedv ratchet wheel, a loosely mounted cam. wheel having a controlling ratchet wheel and a pawl therefor, a crank having a pawl engaging the fixedly attached ratchet wheel and the cam wheel respectively, and a latchdevice mounted in the crank adapted to engage the pawl when it is retracted by reverse movement with respect to the cam wheel to hold it' awaytherefrom.

,7, In combination with a cranking shaft having'a fixedly attached ratchet wheel, a

rotatably mounted cam and its holding ratchet wheel, and, a loosely mounted crank having aspring pressed pawl for the fixedly attached ratchet wheel provided with an abutment roller for the cam wheel; a pivoted spring pressed pawl engaging the holding ratchet wheel ofthe cam.

8. In combination with a crankingshaft having afixedly attached ratchet wheel, a

rotatably mounted cam and its holding ratchet wheel, and a loosely mounted crank having a spring pressed pawl for the fixedly attached j ratchet wheel provided with an abutment roller. for the cam wheel; a pivoted spring pressed pawl engaging the holcling ratchet wheel of the cam, a mounting plate for said pawhand means for holding the same in operative position.

9. Safety cranking, mechanism consisting of a clutch having a stud shaft provided with a fixedlyattached ratchet wheel, a cam wheel and a controlling ratchet wheel connected therewith rotatably mounted on the shaft, a crank loosely mounted on the shaft having a "spring-pressed pivoted pawl'for the fixedly attached ratchet wheel provided with an-abutmentroller for the cam wheel,

and a stationary pivoted spring-pressed pawl engaging the cam wheel controlling ratchet wheel.

10. Safety cranking mechanism consisting of a clutch having a stud shaftprovided with aifixedly attached ratchet'wheel, a'cam wheel and a controlling ratchet wheel connected therewith-rotatably mounted on the shaft, a crank loosely mounted on the shaft having a spring-pressed pivoted pawl for the fixedly attached ratchet wheel provided with anabutment roller for the cam wheel,

a stationary'fpivoted spring-pressed pawl engaging the'cam wheel controlling ratchet Wheel, a mounting plate therefor, and a for; a fixedly mounted socket plate and a holder for said plate. pawl supporting holder removably mounted 11. In combination With a removable therein having a spring-pressed locking l0 cranking device for internal combustion enpawl for one of said ratchet Wheels. 5 gines embodying a clutch and its shaft hav- In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my ing a crank and co-acting engaging and resignature. leasing ratchet mechanism and a cam there- ROBERT N. COOK. 

